DIPLOMAT FAVORED FOR MEXICO POST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton apparently has settled on career
diplomat Jeffrey Davidow for the long-vacant post of ambassador to Mexico,
administration officials said Tuesday.

Davidow directs the State Department's Latin America bureau and is a former
ambassador to Venezuela and Zambia.

He is reported to have edged out former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier for the
assignment. Officials decided it was preferable to have an experienced
diplomat in Mexico City as opposed to a political appointee. Lanier stepped
down last week after six years as Houston mayor.

The Mexico City post has been vacant since the departure last June of
former Rep. James Jones, D-Okla. Opposition by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee chairman, Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., blocked the confirmation of
Clinton's first choice for the job, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.

Davidow won Helms' backing in 1996 when he was nominated for his current
post. Helms' office declined immediate comment Tuesday on Davidow's
expected nomination to go to Mexico.

Last week, Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations subcommittee on Latin America, expressed concern about the
vacancy in Mexico City and called on Clinton to name a career diplomat to
fill it.

Davidow, 53, was named in an ``action memo'' sent to Clinton for final
approval, The Washington Post said in a story attributed to unidentified
senior administration officials.

White House press secretary Mike McCurry said: ``The president's been
interested in finding someone who would ably represent the interests of the
United States government at a time in which we are building a very strong
partnership with the government of Mexico and, of course, Assistant
Secretary Davidow has been involved in exactly that.''

In Venezuela a decade ago, Davidow served under Ambassador Otto Reich, who
said Tuesday that Davidow ``is as qualified for the job as anyone we have.

``He reports the truth. If it's bad news, he'll report it. If it's good
news, he'll report it,'' Reich said.

Drug trafficking is the most divisive issue in U.S.-Mexican relations. As
part of an annual procedure, the administration must decide by March 1
whether to certify Mexico as a cooperating partner in the drug war. A
finding that Mexico is not fully cooperating would carry economic penalties
and produce a crisis in relations.

Despite bitter criticism about Mexico's anti-narcotics performance by some
members of Congress, the administration has complimented Mexico's
performance. A decision to recertify Mexico is expected.

Last September, Weld's bid for the post was defeated when Helms refused to
schedule a confirmation hearing.

Helms contended that Weld's stances in favor of legalizing marijuana for
medical use and needle-exchange programs for addicts made him an
inappropriate choice as ambassador to a nation where drug trafficking is a
serious problem.